Possibly Tate's attempt to somehow be relevant again? I say be a good teammate and humbly work your way back up the depth chart. Tell your family to leave the twittering alone and let what happens on the gridiron do all the talking for you.

Seriously? Seriously? .......really? what the hell is going on? I really hope this has something to do with family and not with the game tomorrow. rejgbierugbliahbrgiluhrbg. Maybe it is the past two years that are making me view anything like this in a negative light...but I just do not like where this is going.

100% chance Denard gets the start tomorrow. I can't imagine a scenario in which RichRod rewards Denard's performance against UCONN by letting Tate start. I know we're all about the team and working hard in practice etc, but WTF kind of message would that send to Denard?

If his secret is related to playing time, then it's probably something along the lines of a few series in the 2Q or something ...

If this tweet really is related to a significant wrinkle in the game plan, or something to do with Tate transferring, Momma Forcier should be fucking ashamed of herself for the need to draw attention to her and her son leading up to the game. Jesus. "I've got a secret :)" What is she, thirteen years old?

QBForce is getting to the point where I don't even get irritated with Tate when he acts a little immature or arrogant - the website makes it seem like it would be a miracle for someone with his upbringing not to have a narcissistic streak a mile wide.

Sure, for variety's sake let's make sure the guy who accounted for almost 400 yards of total offense isn't on the field as much as possible.

Fuck a different look.

I'm really not hating on Forcier here, but if anyone can explain to me why Denard should get fewer snaps after his performance against UConn, I'm all ears. Unless he's hurt. Or in the midst of an ether binge.

It's just keeping the look changing. Seriously, after you spend all week preparing for that guy, having Forcier come out and start delivering quite a different set of plays, including some deep balls and so on, would really mess with you. Put Forcier in for a series, and then go back to Denard. The young defensive guys are so shook up they've now forgotten their Denard assignments.

To reiterate what Blazefire said, it's not about giving Denard fewer touches, it's about giving the opposing defense fits by preparing for a guy with Denard's skills and going with a guy with a completely different set of skills for a series or 2.

I understand that this is the logic you're using. But it doesn't make any sense to throw another QB in when your starter looks great in all aspects of the game. If Denard is throwing short routes with touch and accuracy, making good reads, throwing over the middle when it's open, and doing the dilithium thing ... man, that's far more worrisome to a defense than any hypothetical change of pace. Forcier would be more a breather for the defense than a headache, if Denard is playing anything like he did against UConn.

If Rich decides to bring Tate in just because it's something different - and not because Denard is struggling in practice this week for whatever reason - it would be a case of him being too goddamn clever for his own good. If you've got a stud at QB, you keep him in there. End of. Ask John Cooper whether it was worth taking Joe Germaine out for Stanley Jackson's change of pace against Michigan.

Maybe just seeing Tate will make the ND defense relive last year's game, and shake their confidence. But I doubt it. I really have to think they'd be more worried about the QB who's at least two steps faster than their fastest player.

Seriously, at this point are we really sure that Tate is offering significant skills that Denard doesn't have? We know that Denard is much faster, a much more effective runner, and therefore much more in command of Rodriguez's offensive bread and butter. Denard also has a much stronger arm, and was very, very accurate against UConn. Does everyone just assume that Tate's deep ball is considerably better than Denard's, even though we haven't seen Tate air it out with success since the ND game last year, and even though Denard has the stronger arm? Of what, exactly, does Tate's change of pace consist? (Other than the obvious change from 'threat to score every time he takes off' to 'threat to pick up 5-10 yards when protection breaks down.)

One of the greatest parts about Denard's performance against UConn, to me, is that most of what he accomplished on each play was within the framework of that particular playcall. He ran the offense, and he ran it like a well-oiled machine. Much of Tate's success, on the other hand, came from improvisation - a hell of a lot of scrambling and moxie. Certainly, a great QB needs to improvise, but I think Denard's speed allows him to do so just as well as Tate, and with considerably less risk. And, as we saw last year, Tate was frequently on the razor's edge of gutsy brilliance and crippling irresponsibility with the football. I'm sure he knows the offense better as a sophomore than he did last year, but I really don't see the advantage in putting him in unless Denard is struggling. I think it's absolutely bizarre that people still don't consider Denard to have earned the sole starting spot, at least for a week, after the brilliant show he put on against UConn.

Don't get me wrong, Denard should be the starter after last weeks game but as Brian said we still don't know how well Denard reads the defense. We don't know if he can come off the primary receiver and such. Keep in mind, we aren't talking about trotting out Sheridan (no disrespect to Nick), we are talking about bringing in a guy who is experienced, a proven passer and can read defenses extremely well. I'm not saying that Tate should play half the game but a series or 2 just to give ND headaches and torch them through the air like he did last year.

On 'reads defenses very well." Where's the evidence for this? Tate scrambled at the slightest provocation last year, and frequently threw dangerous/ill-advised passes. He certainly did a poor job reading defenses on the read option, as well?

This is what's getting my dander up here - why is everyone assuming that Tate is so much better as a passer than Denard? Maybe Denard will revert to what he looked like last year, but all the buzz since spring was that he had made huge strides as a passer, and it looked like the UConn game validated that. Even if Forcier is slightly better and making reads than Denard, that advantage would be completely negated by the fact that Denard's speed makes his reads much, much easier to make - see: Oh wow he's open.

I'm glad Tate will be available if Denard struggles at length or, god forbid, gets hurt. He's not a bad player. But unless that happens, I think it would be crazy to get him in the game.

Fair enough, I can honestly say that I do not know football enough to see what reads QB's are making while the play is going on but seeing how Tate has been groomed to be a QB since he could walk, I'm assuming he has a good handle on the game plus the fact he isn't the most athletic player on the field (or at his position).

I will say this, I suppose I am assuming Tate is a better passer than Denard at the moment because I have seen what Tate can do while despite Denard's strong spring, fall, and game against UConn, there are still questions about Denard's passing. I'm not trying to hate on Denard or you but even Brian had questions about Denard's passing. Don't get me wrong, Denard's progress is unbelievable from last year to this year and I am a HUGE supporter of Denard and would love to see him torch ND defense with his arms and legs but I wouldn't be surprised to see Tate get some PT this game.

I do agree with you that Denard's speed will open up defenses a lot (read: extremely) and leave receivers wide open FWIW.

I think what I'm saying is that until ND proves that Denard's passing is still a weakness in this offense, there's no reason to put Tate in. Basically, that means that Tate is the backup, who should be ready if called upon.

But if Rodriguez is planning to put Forcier in no matter what, - if there's some kind of predetermined rotation - I'm seriously questioning that logic. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Alright I get what your saying and I hope that your correct that Denard's passing has improved enough to the point were it wouldn't be reason enough to put Tate in for no reason. (Not trying to disrespect Tate here but hoping Denard is well made of dilithium with Henne arms)

I was thinking the same thing but did not want to say it. When something like this pops up all we have is speculation. I dont know whos twitter account it is. My sarcasm meter also just went out the window.

While I don't believe that any coaches would put any stock in what someone's mom Tweets - however it will obviously spread across the Internets, evidenced by this and other threads across cyberspace. Maybe she's trying to have some fun with ND fans because she recalls what Tate did to them last year. Who knows but I would guarantee this is nothing negative about Tate transferring.

Having Tate on the Michigan team is a great thing(remember last year). As miserable as we were he gave us alil hope last year. As a true freshman he did a very good job. RR is a smart coach, was last week smoke and mirrors, was it scripted? Poor Tate bad attitude, poor work ethic, I dont think so, his Mom or brothers wouldnt allow it. His Dad said"he isnt going anywhere" I somehow believe that. Did anyone think DR would do what he did....NOPE. So why fix something not broken. Tate has only gotten better over the same time span as DR and the kid wasnt going to be redshirted so y not put him in (in a mop up role) "the kid being Gardner". We dint have to show anything offensively against UCONN. When was the last time u have seen a football game won with running a qbsneak. At any level, thats what we did.

We will see the real Michigan offense tomorrow, and all 3 qbs will be used, Go Blue!!!

Soooo....Mrs T you are on the verge of announcing the finalization of your plan...the mind control device must have arrived along with the signed contract of one of the top blow gun champions in the world.

The plan, if I understand is that the device would ride on the nose of a dart, through the blow pipe, 500 yards in the air taking account of wind and humidity to the target, once under the skin said device can be activated.....leaving you in full control...brilliant.

*Except if all of your prep has gone into stopping the running game QB we saw last week.

Now Denard can throw as well, having him put the ball in the air on every play would bumfluster them up just as much. But we will do neither: we'll force them to stop the unstoppable offense we saw against UCONN

I'm not advocating Tate coming out (though I loves me some Tate), nor am I predicting it. I'm merely saying it would send ND into a slight panic, because they haven't practiced for it at all. And it would

The defense would be much more panicked by the idea of having to contain Robinson. I'm not so sure that what UM would throw at ND with Tate taking snaps would be so radically different than what they'd do with Denard that it would be a huge advantage.

My simple calculus: right now Denard is definitely a threat to score with his feet on every play, and it looks like he can be a downfield threat with his arm, too. Tate can be a good downfield passer on his day, but he's obviously nowhere near as much a threat on the ground. So Denard is scarier.

Also, I question the extent to which ND has really been able to replicate The Denard Experience in practice.

If this means Tate is playing, then it could be an amazing call. I'd probably rather see Denard starting, but whatever. In hindsight, Tate starting against UConn could have been a "we wasted the good surprise on you" moment.

And probably a slap in the face to Devin Gardner. Tate pouts and whines on the sidelines, spouts off to a reporter on the way off the field, after an offseason where he had to earn his wings back and had multiple teammates publicly voice their displeasure in his effort and attitude...

And Devin gets left back in Ann Arbor completely healthy and ready to go?

Not that I don't think RR is taking all three anyway, but if he for some reason took 2 QB's and left Gardner at home, I guess Tate can thank his parents and the media for his spot on the bus. This stuff is so amazingly high school.

Devin is a true FR with 3 or 4 snaps of game time experience. Tate is a proven commodity having started all 12 games last year, pulling off a dramatic win over ND no less, and he keep us in the game in a few tough losses.

If I'm Devin, I would expect to have Tate be in the game before me no matter how much promise I show in practice and controlled scrimmages.

Body of work and all that.

Now, if Tate doesn't turn it around pretty soon, that certainly would give Devin something to gripe about (not that he would/should).

This is just putting this out there for those that have spoken of Denard's accuracy in glowing terms...

First off, I love Denard, and am absolutely stoked. I was there at the game, and he electirifed the crowd and put on a show. I was amazed at his passing improvements, and ecstatic for the rest of the season with him at the helm giving opposing def coord's fits.

However, after watching the game when i got back home and paying attention to the finer things, he just about got Roundtree killed and is not nearly as skilled a passer as Tate is. This is fact. It is not speculation. The little things like leading receivers perfectly, perfect accuracy on bubble screens, reading complex defenses and going to 2nd, 3rd and evern 4th reads have not been displayed by him yet. I'm not saying he can't do it. I'm not saying he won't do it. But those who look at his completion percentage and claim him to be deadly accurate are just wrong.

The thing he brings to the table is his lightning fast speed. This opens up more room for error for him in the passing game, which he takes advantage of and succeeds. This is fine, i'm not ripping it at all, it is awesome. I'm just saying that completion percentage in one game where the defense is scared shitless of him running all over them does not mean he has morphed into a deadly accurate passing qb.

But what he is, is damn good, and poses a major threat to the defense, and i'm damn glad i'm not a big ten defensive coordinator, cuz this kid would get me fired.

The little things like leading receivers perfectly, perfect accuracy on bubble screens, reading complex defenses and going to 2nd, 3rd and evern 4th reads have not been displayed by him yet.

Denard looked just as, or at least nearly as, accurate on short passes and screens against UConn as Tate did last year.

Also, I'm befuddled as to where you've seen Tate read defenses with such acumen. Did you read it on QBForce? After all, he has been groomed to be a star QB since birth. Just ask Mike!

Snark aside, I'll grant you that the jury is out on Denard's skill as a passer - dude's only been a starter for one game. But bringing up the Roundtree hospital ball doesn't really help your case - show me one game where Tate only made one major mistake throwing the ball last year. Hell, show me an example of Tate finding his fourth read - it may have happened, but I don't recall it. What does seem indisputable (read: fact not speculation) is that Denard has a much stronger arm than Tate, which is certainly one of those key passing skills.

At any rate, it's silly to compare Tate's ability to read defenses with Denard's, since as you say, Denard's threat to score a TD every time he takes off radically simplifies his reads. Also, he is a threat to score a TD every time he takes off. Which is nice.

I don't know, I'm just not sure what the point of trying to knock Denard's skill as a passer in relation to Tate is. It's a weird segment of the fan base that pokes holes in the game of a QB who just played statistically one of the truly outstanding games in CFB history Until he falters, he's got my benefit of the doubt.